Published date: August 11, 2024 20:25 Updated date: August 12, 2024 01:16
Kang Chang-ho
The author is an editorial writer for the JoongAng Ilbo.
“It's true that Europe is declining and Korea is expanding, but we still need to pay attention to this old continent,” said Lee Won-bok, professor and chair of the visual design department at Duksung Women's University in Seoul. Lee, 78, was and remains a passionate advocate of Europe's strength, as suggested by her hit comic book series, “Far Land, Near Land,” which has sold nearly 20 million copies over the past four decades.
His uniquely succinct and insightful views on Europe's past, present and future have helped countless young Koreans deepen their understanding of the culture, history and ethos of this ancient continent. But when I met the former university president at his Seoul office, I asked him a somewhat provocative question: Is Europe really falling apart? Or, more precisely, does Korea no longer need to learn from Europe?
“Well, when I published my first educational manga series 43 years ago, Europe was indeed a role model for Korea. We may have caught up with Europe economically, but the basic standards of our society are still those of Europe. As we are becoming equal to Europe, we must understand the basis of those standards. Only then can we truly become a developed country.”
When I visited him in his workroom on a humid summer day, I found him preparing to publish a new educational manga series, which happened to be based on Scandinavia, and I wondered why he had become interested in the region.
Lee Won-bok, professor and chair of the visual design department at Duksung Women's University, smiles in her Seoul studio. Her hit comic book series, “Far Land, Near Land,” has been published in Korean and English and has sold nearly 20 million copies over the past 40 years. She is preparing another comic book series that will shine a light on Northern Europe. (Jang Jin-young)
Q. Why did you decide to publish a Nordic-themed comic series?
A. Because Korean society is too extreme. Since the French Revolution in 1789, world history has revolved mainly around two opposing values, liberty and equality, and developed countries are those that know how to balance these two. The Nordic countries are a good example of this, symbolizing the noble value of “free qualism,” a new word I first coined to integrate the concepts of liberty, equality, and balance.
With Europe's growth stagnating for some time now, there are growing voices in Korea saying, “There is nothing more to learn from Europe.” What are your thoughts on this?
That is a mistake. The standard in modern society is still Europe. Even if Europe disappears, metric units like kilometers and kilograms will not change. The roots of our country's constitutional government, which touts “liberal democracy” and “rule of law,” can also be traced back to Europe. The Renaissance and Enlightenment, which sought to separate God and man, gave birth to democracy and capitalism. Countries that did not undergo this transition became authoritarian or dictatorial states. South Korea has joined the ranks of developed countries, but without a fundamental understanding of Europe, it could make mistakes.
Why should we learn from the Nordic countries in particular?
The Nordic region was ruled by Vikings until 1066. If a male Viking left his village to plunder other parts of Europe, it would take up to two years. During that time, female Vikings had to do everything in the village by themselves. This allowed them to become equals with men at an early stage. The dominant mindset of the raiders, that is, not monopolizing the loot, helped them to respect equality. A thousand years of strengthening the gene for equal treatment led them to secure women's suffrage and the election of heads of state before their neighbors. However, the new reality of having powerful countries such as Russia, Germany, and the UK around them also encouraged them not to provoke others. This is part of the reason why Northerners behave humbly. If you buy a Porsche, you will attract the attention of others immediately. So, instead, buy a popular Volkswagen Passat, not to mention low-priced fashion brands.
Is this how Janthe's Law emerged?
In 1933, Danish-Norwegian author Axel Sandemosse introduced a fictional city called “Jante” in his novel “Fugitive's Trail.” In that Danish town, all the inhabitants keep an eye on each other and turn their backs on anyone with a distinctive personality. This mentality is condensed into the “Jante's Laws,” a code of conduct defined in the novel, which starts with rule 1, “Don't think you're special,” and ends with rule 10, “Don't think that anyone can teach us anything.” Another important characteristic of Swedes is “lagom,” which can be roughly translated into English as “properly” or “properly.” If you ask a Swede how much coffee they want to drink, they will simply reply, “lagom.” Scandinavia has been ruled by the Jante's Laws and lagom. They also don't talk much because they don't want to bother others, and vice versa.
What can we learn from the Scandinavians?
Sweden is notorious for its excessively heavy taxes, but it abolished inheritance tax in the 1990s. The government made the decision after the inheritance tax caused a large number of global companies such as IKEA and Volvo to leave the country, causing a sharp decline in national wealth. If necessary, they will change course. Another thing we can learn from Sweden is to avoid extremes and seek consensus. However, compromise is premised on equality. Leaders respect the opinions of their subordinates, conference rooms have round tables, and ministers and janitors call each other by their first names.
Is there something wrong with society?
With 75% of people's income going to taxes, there is less motivation to earn money. High reliance on welfare benefits also contributes to making people lazy. However, Swedes are increasingly frustrated with the relatively small benefits compared to taxes, given their high tax burden. This is mainly to do with waste of tax money. The biggest blind spot is the health service, as seen in the sharp increase in lonely deaths on the streets. In Sweden, a family doctor usually serves 10 families. However, because doctors are paid the same regardless of the number of patients, it has become very difficult to find a family doctor. Some patients have to wait six months just to get a medical checkup. Welfare services cannot be cut once they start.
What do you think about the severe social unrest that Sweden experienced after accepting a large number of refugees from the Middle East in 2015?
Sweden sided with Germany in the early days of World War II when Germany was winning, but after the war turned, it sided with the United States and Great Britain. Stockholm's decision to accept refugees was likely due to a need to make amends for past mistakes. Sweden also became a member of the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission after the Korean War.
In 2012, the European Union's (EU) GDP was similar to that of the US, but in 10 years the gap has grown to $9 trillion, with the EU's GDP at $18 trillion and the US at $27 trillion. Why do you think this gap is growing?
I attribute this to a lack of entrepreneurial spirit in the old continent. In Scandinavia, Angry Birds and Bluetooth are almost the only successful startups. Without a spirit of innovation, Europe is becoming a boiling frog. Nevertheless, this continent will lead the world standards for decades to come. I think Scandinavia is one step closer to the far left, while Germany has a moderate mix of socialism and capitalism, as represented by cheap, high-quality brands produced by strong small and medium-sized companies. The US economy, based on survival of the fittest, is incompatible with ours.
Koreans say Europe was once their role model, but that is no longer the case.
Every time I gave a lecture, the audience asked me, “What kind of developed country should Korea become in the future?” My answer was, “We must become a country that other countries respect.” Most developed countries cannot avoid criticism from the outside. Therefore, instead of obsessing about being “number one in the world,” we must act with common sense. The government must formulate a foreign policy that does not break the rules and strengthen official development assistance to other countries. Because Korea has not made mistakes such as colonizing other countries, it can get along well with other countries and has the power to present new standards for global issues. The best thing about publishing the manga was that there were many young readers who were backpacking around Europe. They do not feel inferior to the West, speak English, and travel with dignity, with a polite, humble, and open attitude.
What do you think is the reason for the phenomenal success of your comic series?
My greatest asset is that I lived in Germany for 10 years as a student of visual arts and history at the University of Münster. When I was curious, I would travel abroad at least eight times a year to gather information about foreign countries. When I reread history books over and over again, their essence and my inspiration crystallize. That is the basis of my manga.
Translation by JoongAng Ilbo staff.
